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Seattle might be getting a team?

A wealthy San Francisco hedge-fund manager and officials in the Seattle mayor's office have been working behind the scenes for eight months to bring an NBA team back to the city as early as next fall and build a new arena, according to emails and documents that reveal a far more concerted effort than previously known.

A Dec. 13 agenda for a meeting between the parties shows they were talking about details such as a "Review of Basic Deal Structure," "Financing Issues," including "City Debt Capacity," and "Security for Public Financing."

The documents, released Friday to The Seattle Times under a public-disclosure request, also provide the first glimpse of how the largely unknown hedge-fund manager, 44-year-old Seattle native Christopher Hansen, approached the city about his desire to buy an NBA team and build an arena south of Safeco Field.

In an initial email laying out his vision, Hansen told city officials an arena could be built with minimal impact on taxpayers.

Kings up for grabs?

Although the documents don't mention how Seattle would obtain a team, they show the city has been following developments in Sacramento, which is under a March 1 deadline to come up with a viable proposal to build an arena for the Sacramento Kings. In September, Hirsh emailed a copy of an Associated Press story to Raup that outlined the Sacramento situation.

If Sacramento fails, the Kings could be playing in Seattle next fall if the city and Hansen reach an agreement, according to a Seattle City Hall source who has been briefed on the matter.

Eyes on Sacramento

What happens in Sacramento could drive the process.

Sacramento is attempting to secure the financing to build a new downtown arena for the Kings, who have played since 1988 in what is now known as Power Balance Pavilion, formerly Arco Arena. At 17,317 capacity, it is the smallest arena in the NBA and is also one of the oldest, and lacks many of the revenue-generating amenities of new arenas.

The Kings are owned by Joe and Gavin Maloof, who have run into some well-documented financial issues in recent years, specifically concerning their investment in the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, and they are pressing for a new arena to be built immediately or to relocate the team somewhere it will make more money.

The Kings almost moved to Anaheim last season before NBA Commissioner David Stern stepped in and said the city should be allowed more time to try to keep the team. Given that the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers already play in the Southern California market, the owners of those teams might balk at a competitor.

The Kings are an original member of the NBA, which dates to 1949, and are one of the most well-traveled, having played in Rochester, N.Y.; Cincinnati; and Kansas City-Omaha before Sacramento.

Under the NBA's March 1 deadline for Sacramento to present a viable financing plan, a new arena would be located at the downtown rail yards at a cost of roughly $400 million. The city has proposed to raise about $200 million by leasing the rights to the city's parking spaces for 50 years.

On Friday, the city announced the names of 13 companies that have submitted proposals to win those rights. The city is expected on Feb. 14 to present to the City Council the proposals it considers the most viable. It also has been expected that a proposed arena builder would donate roughly $50 million to the project.

The Kings are struggling on the court, with a losing record, and attendance has suffered, with its average of 14,267 per game through Feb. 3 ranking 26th among 30 teams.

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

The NBA needs to open up the bidding on the Hornets. They aren't having much luck finding an owner to keep the team in New Orleans.

"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
Want your own "Just Say No to Kamen" from @mkroeger pic? http://twitpic.com/a3hmca

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

The NBA needs to open up the bidding on the Hornets. They aren't having much luck finding an owner to keep the team in New Orleans.

They have potential owners set up (the Benson group the Chouest group and the Mike Dunleavy sr group(I pray for Hornets fans sake that doesn't happen ) they just cant sell the team until March. The Hornets are doing better than a lot of other NBA teams .

The NBA only bought the team because the last owner Shinn was basically broke and had to step in before it got worse. Much like the Dodgers and frank Mccourt situation.

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

Yeah, I hate that they were stolen. The Zombie Sonics will forever be known as "stolen" and rightfully so. I will never buy Starbucks, ever. I hope the Kings move up there and become the Zombie Sonics' Kryptonite.

EDIT: I guess I would buy Starbucks again, if only the CEO guy would buy the Hornets and bring the team back that he gave away to OKC. In the process give the "Hornets" history back to Charlotte and move forward.

Last edited by Steagles; 02-05-2012 at 07:43 PM.

"What you do is so loud, I can't hear what you say" -Andrew Luck
"If you turn the other cheek, I'm gonna hit you in the other cheek, too" -Charles Barkley
"Ego is edging greatness out" -Rick Pitino

Sophomore at the University of Louisville
Greenfield-Central High School Alum '14
Follow me on Twitter @steagles1

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

Yeah, I hate that they were stolen. The Zombie Sonics will forever be known as "stolen" and rightfully so. I will never buy Starbucks, ever. I hope the Kings move up there and become the Zombie Sonics' Kryptonite.

Just like the Colts were stolen they will forever be known as "stolen" and rightfully so.

Baltimore should of never had their Colts stolen feel bad for the people of Baltimore for that happening. I would be so pissed if that happen to my team.

The Colts situation is totally different. The NFL didn't "conspire" to make sure they come to Indy. Irsay just left. The NBA made sure that they moved to OKC because Seattle wouldn't build the new arena.

"What you do is so loud, I can't hear what you say" -Andrew Luck
"If you turn the other cheek, I'm gonna hit you in the other cheek, too" -Charles Barkley
"Ego is edging greatness out" -Rick Pitino

Sophomore at the University of Louisville
Greenfield-Central High School Alum '14
Follow me on Twitter @steagles1

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

Just like the Browns were stolen they will forever be known as "stolen" and rightfully so.

Cleveland should of never had their Browns stolen feel bad for the people of Cleveland for that happening. I would be so pissed if that happen to my team.

Fixed. Go read "Glory for Sale" sometime.

"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
Want your own "Just Say No to Kamen" from @mkroeger pic? http://twitpic.com/a3hmca

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

The Colts situation is totally different. The NFL didn't "conspire" to make sure they come to Indy. Irsay just left. The NBA made sure that they moved to OKC because Seattle wouldn't build the new arena.

That is Seattle's fault for not building an arena. They would of stayeed IMO if they did. You cant make empty threats of leaving look what it has got the Kings this year. I personally could never move a team because that is just wrong to the fans of your team and to the franchise.

Cdash if the Pacers left tomorrow in the middle of the night for Seattle I would never forgive or never forget that. Would you??

I root and support for the Indiana Pacers not the Seattle Pacers. Also getting a new team wouldnt solve anything IMO yes you get a new team but I dont want a new team I want my Indiana Pacers.

The Browns were stole also but so were the Colts

EDIT at least Cleveland got their franchise back. Baltimore didn't they got an expansion franchise. Indy should be the one who have the Indianapolis Ravens and Baltimore should still have the Colts.

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

EDIT at least Cleveland got their franchise back. Baltimore didn't they got an expansion franchise. Indy should be the one who have the Indianapolis Ravens and Baltimore should still have the Colts.

Tell that to Cleveland after Baltimore won a Super Bowl with THEIR players and have generally contended year and year out while the Browns have been a laughingstock since they came back. Some consolation prize.

"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
Want your own "Just Say No to Kamen" from @mkroeger pic? http://twitpic.com/a3hmca

Re: Seattle might be getting a team?

That is Seattle's fault for not building an arena. They would of stayeed IMO if they did. You cant make empty threats of leaving look what it has got the Kings this year. I personally could never move a team because that is just wrong to the fans of your team and to the franchise.

Cdash if the Pacers left tomorrow in the middle of the night for Seattle I would never forgive or never forget that. Would you??

I root and support for the Indiana Pacers not the Seattle Pacers. Also getting a new team wouldnt solve anything IMO yes you get a new team but I dont want a new team I want my Indiana Pacers.

The Browns were stole also but so were the Colts

EDIT at least Cleveland got their franchise back. Baltimore didn't they got an expansion franchise. Indy should be the one who have the Indianapolis Ravens and Baltimore should still have the Colts.

Well if the Pacers moved to Seattle, I'd probably consider moving there. I got family up there, and Seattle is one of the nicest cities/areas in the country.

As far as the Colts. Baltimore was going to actually steal the team from Irsay via immanent domain. There was going to be a city council vote on it and once Irsay learned of it he never gave them the chance to vote.